Turning Away Begins in the Heart. Proverbs 14:14 (KJV) “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.” Backsliding starts internally long before actions show it. Turning Away Is a Rejection of God’s Voice. Jeremiah 7:24 (KJV) “But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.” When people stop listening to God, they naturally drift backward. God Warns Repeatedly Before Judgment. 2 Chronicles 24:20 (KJV) “Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you.” Forsaking God leads to losing His protection. Turning Away Leads to Spiritual Blindness. Romans 1:21 (KJV) “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God… their foolish heart was darkened.” Rejecting God results in a darkened heart and confused thinking. God Gives People Over When They Persistently Reject Him. Romans 1:24 (KJV) “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts…” Romans 1:28 (KJV) “God gave them over to a reprobate mind…” Persistent rebellion leads to God letting people follow their chosen path. Turning Away Brings Destruction if Unrepented. Hosea 4:6 (KJV) “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Forgetting God leads to destruction. God Warns That Turning Away After Knowing the Truth Is Serious. 2 Peter 2:20–21 (KJV) “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world… they are again entangled therein… the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” Returning to sin after knowing Christ brings severe consequences. God Still Offers Restoration. Isaiah 55:7 (KJV) “Let the wicked forsake his way… and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him.” God’s mercy is always available to the repentant.
IT’S NOT GOOD TO TURN AWAY FROM GOD. LET US NOT TURN AWAY FROM GOD.
Proverbs 31:10 An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. Proverbs 31:12 She does him good and not evil. All the days of her life. 1 Corinthians 11:11 However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. Matthew 12:35 The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. Proverbs 20:7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity—How blessed are his sons after him. Genesis 2:22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 1 Corinthians 11:8 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; 1 Corinthians 7:4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 1 Corinthians 7:3 The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. Mark 10:6 But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
GOD MADE MAN AND WOMAN. WE NEED EACH OTHER. LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. Psalm 3:3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. Psalm 118:25-26
The Bible speaks very directly about arrogance — God hates it, warns against it, and promises it will lead to a fall. These verses show how seriously God treats pride and arrogant behavior. Proverbs 16:18 — “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 8:13 — “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy… do I hate.” Proverbs 11:2 — “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” Proverbs 29:23 — “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” James 4:6 — “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5 — “Be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” Isaiah 2:12 — “The day of the Lord… shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty… and he shall be brought low.” Proverbs 18:12 — “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.” Scripture shows a consistent pattern: God opposes the proud — He actively resists arrogance (James 4:6). Arrogance leads to downfall — It blinds a person and brings destruction (Proverbs 16:18). Arrogance is sin — God calls it an abomination (Proverbs 16:5). Arrogant people are humbled — God brings them low (Isaiah 2:12). These truths appear repeatedly across both Old and New Testaments. Why Arrogance Is So Dangerous According to Scripture: It elevates self above God (Genesis 11:4 — Tower of Babel). It blocks grace — God gives grace only to the humble (James 4:6). It destroys relationships — “Only by pride cometh contention” (Proverbs 13:10). It leads to spiritual blindness — Nebuchadnezzar lost everything until he humbled himself (Daniel 4). The Bible’s Solution: Humility God doesn’t just condemn arrogance — He gives the remedy: Philippians 2:3 — “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Matthew 23:12 — “He that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Humility brings honor, wisdom, and God’s favor.
DON’T FRET, GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF THOSE ARROGANT PEOPLE.
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. Proverbs 21:21 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Psalm 25:4 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. Proverbs 13:3
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS QUICK REFRESHER ABOUT LIFE.
If you want to put God first, Scripture makes it unmistakably clear: seek His kingdom above everything, love Him with your whole being, and let every decision flow from devotion to Him. 2 Corinthians 8:5 (KJV) — “But first gave their own selves to the Lord…” God doesn’t want your schedule—He wants you. Proverbs 3:6 “In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Mark 12:30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Why Putting God First Matters: It aligns your life with His will. It brings clarity, peace, and direction. It protects your heart from idols. It keeps your love for God alive and central. It ensures everything else in life falls into its proper place.
IS GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE? ALLOW THIS QUICK REFRESHER TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
Joy Comes From God’s Presence. Psalm 16:11 teaches that “in Your presence is fullness of joy.” Joy flows from closeness to God, not external success or comfort. Joy Is Strength. Nehemiah declared, “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” This shows joy is not just emotion—it empowers believers to endure hardship Jesus Gives Complete Joy. Jesus said He came so that “My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” Joy is part of the life He imparts to His followers. Biblical joy is a steady, Spirit‑given gladness rooted in God’s presence, God’s promises, and God’s salvation—not in circumstances. It strengthens believers, sustains them through trials, and flows from a living relationship with Jesus Christ. The Difference Between Joy and Happiness (Biblically) Happiness comes from external circumstances. When things go well, you feel happy. When they don’t, happiness fades. Joy comes from God Himself. It flows from His presence, His Spirit, His promises, and His salvation. Happiness focuses on the moment. “I feel good right now.” Joy focuses on God’s truth. “God is good, God is with me, God is working — even if I don’t feel good right now.” Joy looks beyond the moment to the eternal. SUMMARY: Happiness is based on happenings. Joy is based on Jesus.Happiness is an emotion. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Happiness is momentary. Joy is continual. Happiness reacts to life. Joy responds to God.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND RECEIVED FROM THIS QUICK REFRESHER.
